Frog Sage

Frog Sage
Species	Frog
First appearance	Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
Latest appearance	Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch) (2023)

“Yes, "Old Wise People" can often give good advice...”

—Frog Sage, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

The Frog Sage, originally known as Frogfucius (translated as "Frog Hermit" on one occasion), is a sagacious frog who lives at Tadpole Pond in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and its remake. He is also Mallow's adoptive grandfather. During a rainstorm, while the Frog Sage was enjoying a snack of crickets, a small basket floated into Tadpole Pond. In the basket, the Frog Sage found Mallow as a baby (when he was just a little ball of fluff). Taking him in, the Frog Sage raised Mallow as a tadpole and as his grandson. His original name is a portmanteau of "frog" and "Confucius," a famous Chinese philosopher.

History

Background

The Frog Sage is extremely wise, and people travel from all over the world to Tadpole Pond just to ask for his advice. Since the waterways of the world bring news to the pond, the Frog Sage is able to keep up with current events. He studies philosophy and likes to impart his wisdom to his tadpoles. In fact, the Frog Sage has a student who matures from a tadpole to a frog during the course of the game. The Frog Sage also appears to have the power to levitate; however, in reality, a Lakitu with a fishing pole merely carries him through the air. Sometimes, this Lakitu accidentally almost drops the Frog Sage, ruining the illusion of levitation.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Frogfucius first meets Mario.

After Mario and Mallow arrive in Tadpole Pond following their journeys in the Mushroom Kingdom, the Frog Sage reveals some stunning truths to them. First, the Frog Sage states that Princess Peach is no longer at Bowser's Keep and warns Mario about the threat of Smithy and his gang. The Frog Sage also hypothesizes that the Star Pieces are somehow connected to shooting stars and the power of wishes (a theory that Geno later confirms to be true). Finally, the Frog Sage tells Mallow the truth of his origin. He bluntly tells Mallow that he is not a tadpole, much to Mallow's surprise. He then tells Mallow he should accompany Mario to find his real parents, who turn out to be King Nimbus and Queen Nimbus. Additionally, he explains to Mario that Mallow's magic will be useful during the adventure. With the truth revealed, the Frog Sage directs Mario and Mallow to Rose Town, the site of the latest attack by the Smithy Gang.

Mario later returns to the Frog Sage to ask about the location of the next Star Piece. He informs him it has been spotted at Star Hill.

The Frog Sage also has a sweet tooth for Cricket Pie and Cricket Jam. As a reward for some Cricket Pie, the Frog Sage gives Mario the Froggie Stick, the staff the Frog Sage used as a young frog. For the Cricket Jam, he gives Mario ten Frog Coins. If Mario and his party members return to the Frog Sage anytime throughout their adventure, he directs them to the next location they are told to go to or gives them advice.

Mario and the Incredible Rescue

In the book Mario and the Incredible Rescue, when Mario, Luigi, and Toad arrive at Tadpole Pond, Frogfucius tells Mario that Toadofski has one of the six Mushrooms. Mario, Luigi, and Toad thank him, and they continue on their adventure.

The Wisdom of Frogfucius

Throughout the Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Nintendo Player's Guide, Frogfucius provides advice to Mario and company (as well as the player) in a recurring section called "The Wisdom of Frogfucius" that appears in the overview of each of the game's worlds. However, the last piece of wisdom Frogfucius gives appears in a section titled "More Wisdom." The following is a collection of his points of wisdom.

Mushroom Kingdom

"We haven't yet met, Mario, but listen up anyways. Somewhere around here you'll find a Star Piece. Take good care of it, and keep looking for more. Something tells me they're going to be as important as beating Smithy himself. If you want to know more, drop by my study in Tadpole Pond. Be sure to take good care of my grandson, Mallow. Oh, by the way, you wouldn't have any dainty delectables made of crickets, would you? I love 'em!"

Pond to Pipes

"When you win enough Experience Points, you'll move to a higher level, gaining more power as you go. As a bonus, you can boost one category even more. Always choose the category that offers the biggest point gain."

Mole Mountains

"It is written that Flower Power (FP) rules the world. The tadpoles scoff at this, of course. All they care about is growing legs. But for you, since you have legs already, I suggest increasing your total FP to 99 by collecting Flowers (1 FP) found in Treasure Boxes, Flower Tabs (2 FP) given to you by characters, and Flower Jars (5 FP) hidden all over the place.* What? You want more? You're not from this pond, are you? Okay, don't look directly at the eggs in the shell game and try to catch sight of Yoshi out of the corner of your eye. Also, look for special boosts during battles."

ONCE AGAIN! ..............GIVES ANOTHER TURN
HP MAX! ..........................FILLS HP UP
LUCKY! ..................YOSHI GAME FOLLOWS
ATTACK UP! ............INCREASES ATTACK BY 25
DEFENSE UP! ...............INCREASES DEFENSE

*This is a mistake on the guide's part. Flower Tabs increase Mario's FP only by one, and Flower Jars increase Mario's FP only by three.

Seaside

"Out with the old and in with the new, I always tell my pupils. Naturally, they take this as an excuse to throw me out of the pond, completely missing my point. I really shouldn't expect more from tadpoles. As for you adventurous types, you should remember to sell off old weapons and armor after you replace them with newer, better items. You'll make good money for your used equipment, which you can spend on worthwhile things. I highly recommend this course of action."

Land's End

"Toadofsky's still looking for help, and it's up to you to provide it! When I was a wee tadpole, we had real music. None of this Boyz II Pumpkins nonsense. Take the song of the Monstro Town star. Beautiful, beautiful. The little guy sitting on the shelf at Monstermama's will play it for you. No, he won't write it down. What's that you say? Tone deaf, eh? If you had practiced that piano, like I said -All right, all right. Here it is: LA TI DO RE SO DO RE ME. Now leave me alone while I listen to "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?" Unless you have a jar of yummy Cricket Jam, that is. Oh, I'll pay a pretty penny for that lip-smacking pleasure, I will!"

Nimbus Land

"The best things in life are free, but don't give them away once you have them, or you'll never retire to a comfy resort like Tadpole Pond. Shopkeepers will pay big bucks for your rare finds. They'll also pony up dough for your out-of date armor and unused accessories. You'll only get half what you originally paid, but that's better than nothing. Selling off extra items will also open up precious space in your inventory."

"Nothing sounds finer than Toadofsky's sweet music. Except, that is, the tinkling of the Signal Ring alerting you to a hidden treasure. What's the Signal Ring, you say? It seems that Croco, the larcenous lizard, has been using this jangling jewel to find moolah all over the world. Surprise him in the act of looting a Nimbus Land home, though, he'll drop the ring. Equip it and it will sound a most pleasant tone whenever you wander into an area with a hidden Treasure Box. The Signal Ring won't tell you exactly where the Treasure Box is, though. If you're ever curious about how many Treasure Boxes remain hidden, visit the reformed Pandorite in Monstro Town."*

*Again, the guide is mistaken. The reformed monster in Monstro Town is actually a Chester, a relative of the Pandorite.

Smithy Factory

"A wise amphibian once said, take the short path. I believe I said it, actually. Of course, my Tadpoles swim in circles and never get out of the pond. But you can reach either end of a play course be approaching it from the closest World Map location. To reach the end of a course, approach it from the World Map location that you reached after completing that course."

More Wisdom

"At the end of any great quest, a tadpole expects and deserves some recognition from the simple peons whose very existence depended on its heroic actions. In short, it expects a party. At the very least, the grateful citizens of the land should throw it a festive parade and light up the night with a sparkling fireworks display. Ahh, and there's the rub. How do you acquire the fireworks? In fact, there is a little known law of economics that says, if you buy it, it shall be used. Recall the fellow in Moleville who sells fireworks? The more fireworks you purchase from this inventor, the more dazzling will be the fireworks show after you defeat Smithy. The chart below shows just how it works. For instance, if you buy three fireworks from the Moleville merchant, the fireworks display will be a dramatic flower. If you buy five fireworks, you'll gaze in awe at the star that bursts overhead during the parade."

FIREWORKS DISPLAY

0 .........MUSHROOM
1 .........MUSHROOM
2 .........MUSHROOM
3 .............FLOWER
4 .............FLOWER
5 ................STAR

Profile

Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch)

• Website description:
  • Japanese:
    ケロケロ湖に住む、なんでも知ってるものしりなカエル。コオロギセんべいがだいこうぶつ。
    「こまった時には、わしのような　『ものしりじいさん』が　アドバイス。　コレ、おやくそく　なのよネ。」
    (Translation: A know-it-all frog who lives in Tadpole Pond. Cricket Pie is his favorite food.
    "Yes, old wise people can often give good advice...")

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Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	カエル仙人せんにん Kaeru Sennin	Frog Hermit
Chinese	青蛙仙人 Qīngwā Xiānrén	Frog Hermit
Dutch	Kikkerius	From kikker ("frog") and "Confucius"
French (NOA)	Maître Ouaron	Master Ouaron; from ouaouaron ("American bullfrog")
French (NOE)	Batracius	From batracien ("amphibian") and "Confucius"
German	Weisequak	From weise ("wise") and Quak ("croak")
Italian	Ranius	Portmanteau of rana ("frog") and "Confucius"
Korean	개구리신선 Gaeguri Sinseon	Frog Hermit
Spanish	Ranisapio	Portmanteau of rana ("frog") and the Latin verb sapio ("to know"), mixing in the Spanish word sapo ("toad") as well

Trivia

• If Mario stands on the Frog Sage's table and talks to him, he will respond, "Grasshopper, do you not think it rude to stand on my dining table?" In the remake, this is changed so he does not start by calling Mario a grasshopper.